I Brake for the Gnome of the Brave!

Sorry about the pun. I couldn't help myself. I decided that one of the gnomes from the Gnome Sheet (I Brake for Stamps) would be perfect on a July 4th card, then this sentiment sprung to mind. This fabulous gnome is one of NINE (9) gnomes and a plethora of mushrooms on that sheet. Please gnote that this sheet is a great bargain!

The Gnome was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. The image panel was die-cut with a stitched rectangle die. The background was added with Copic markers, which were also used to color the Gnome.

Distress Micro Glaze was sponged over a star stencil onto the top part of a panel cut from cardstock. Blue Bister was sprinkled over the stars, then spritzed with water, and tilted to run a bit. The excess was brushed across the page with a paint brush.  This step was repeated several times, then a tiny bit of Blueprint Sketch Distress inkwas sponged over the stars and Blue Bister to match the colored Gnome better. The top part of the image panel was heat set.

Red Bister was sprinkled onto the bottom part of the panel, spritzed with water, brushed across the page, then heat set. 

***A Digression***

By the way, Bister is very similar to Brusho Crystal Colors. In fact, the only difference (other than the shape of the packaging) that I noted was that the Bister colors have some brownish tones mixed in with the colored crystals which creates a grungier look.

The Bistered panel was put under some books to be flattened a bit. It was then die-cut with a larger stitched rectangle die, removed from the die, and edges of the rectangle were lightly distressed with a scissor to add a touch of white and texture. The panel was then adhered to patterned paper from an ancient 6x6 pad.

Another sheet from the same pad was die-cut with a long rectangle die and a speech bubble die. Red rub-ons were used to add the sentiments.

The image panel was adhered to the card front. The sentiment strip and the conversation bubble were adhered, and the card front was adhered to a white card.

I Brake for Stamps has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps that you ought to check out right now. Just so you know, I Brake for Stamps ships internationally!

Click HERE to be whisked over to I Brake for Stamps to check out all of the goodies!

Thanks for visiting today and be sure to enjoy your holiday!

Kathi

I Brake for...Gnomes!

 Hello, friendly readers! It is Hannah again! I am bringing to you another gnome for the Gnome Sheets stamp set! I know you are used to seeing Kathi post about these gnomes because they are AWESOME, but I wanted to play with them too and to show you something I made with them.

There are 10 gnomes on this stamp sheet, as well as 3 toadstools, there is A LOT of variety on this sheet, it is a MUST HAVE for any gnome lover. Most of the gnomes are gardening, but some of them are doing other activities, or just standing there. It was actually one of Kathi's cards that alerted me to the company I Brake for Stamps! I hope this card inspires you to poke around the shop, if you do, comment down below on what amazing products you find! With over 3,000 items I know you'll find something I haven't!

I colored my little gnome using Zig Markers on watercolor paper. I hadn't been too sure of what I'd do with him until I found this background stamp, which was also colored in the same fashion. My only problem was that the background was so busy my gnome would easily have gotten lost. 

Enter vellum! Vellum allows you to see the background but in an obscured way, allowing for something in front to pop to your attention. Adhering vellum can be tricky, I could adhere it behind the gnome no problem, I used some Ranger Multi-Matte Medium between the background and the vellum, and again between the vellum and the gnome. I also used TINY bits of Multi-Matte Medium behind the strategically placed sentiment, which I found on another random stamp set in my stash.

I hope you don't get too bored of gnome stamps, you can obviously tell that both Kathi and I love gnomes. Next week I'll bring you a FABULOUS mermaid card!